Sherrill girl's birthday wish supports KEYS Program for sick children

SHERRILL -- This year, when Colleen English thought about what she wanted for her 10th birthday, she knew exactly what she was going to ask for -- donations to the KEYS Program.

Colleen came up with the idea after volunteering at the KEYS Program with her mother, Patricia English.

The two have helped organize care packages sent to children battling cancer and other illnesses. The KEYS Program also donates to victims of Hurricane Sandy and survivors from the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn.

The program also reaches out to those who are suffering by using music therapy.

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"I'm donating because they bring music to people in need," Colleen said.

Colleen Bennett, founder of the KEYS Program in Sherrill, started the program in 1994 in memory of her father, Charles Blair, who died of cancer. She said her mission is to bring comfort and hope to children who are battling cancer

"We do that through our bedside performances and also through our care packages," Bennett said. "The care packages include an album of music along with a stuffed animal, an education booklet, and a book."

The cost of each care package is $25. Any monetary donation is helpful.

Bennett said music often consoled her father through his treatments while suffering from cancer.

"We really want to just bring them some peace and some comfort," she said. "I'm not a doctor and I can't help someone prevent cancer, but we sure can use our gift of music to help bring them through that journey and provide support for them."

And this isn't the first time Colleen has opted out of her birthday presents.

Last year, instead of getting gifts on Dec. 30, she received items to give to the Rome Humane Society and the Wanderers' Rest Humane Association in Canastota.

Her mother credits Colleen's selfless attitude to the community service she has grown up with.

"She's a junior Girl Scout, my husband and I are both in the fire department," English said. "She has helped with chicken barbeques and she just understands the importance of volunteering."

Colleen mentioned that when she was in the hospital for eye surgery in October 2012, she remembers feeling homesick.

"It hurt after and I wanted to go home," she said. "But my friends made a pillow for me."

She explained that by donating to the KEYS Program, she hopes to comfort others who may have felt the same way she did while in the hospital.

But Colleen was adamant that she didn't feel slighted in the least that her friends aren't giving her birthday presents again this year, and her mother agreed.

"I think this will help her to become a more well-rounded person, to understand how to help others, to not be selfish and to think of others," English said.

Colleen's actions have even inspired some of her friends to give up their birthday presents, too. Two other girls asked for donations to an animal shelter and an orphanage.

"I felt good because they were doing the same thing as me and helping more people," Colleen English said.

She added that she will be one of the featured singers on the music album this year, singing "Shalom Chaverim," meaning "peace, friends, until we meet again."

Colleen also said she will continue to ask for donations to different organizations each year for her birthday.

If others are interested in donating items to the KEYS Program, more information can be found by calling 315-363-6466 or on the site at: